Pumping mechanism



Oct. .26 1926. 1,604,419

J. OLIPHANT PUMPING MECHANI SM Filed June 15, 1923 Patented Oct. 26,1926.

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JOHN OLIPHANT, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO SULLIVAN MACHINERY COM-PANY, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

PUMPING MECHANISM.

Application filed June 15, 1923. Serial No. 645,536.

My invention relates to pumping mechanism.

It has for its object to provide an improved puinping mechanism. Afurther object of my invention is to provide an improved pumpingmechanism adapted to enable the natural flow from a well to be utilizedand having improved means for increasing the natural flow by the use ofeither vacuum or pressure as conditions require. These and other objectsand advantages of my invention will, however, hereinafter more fullyappear.

In the accompanying drawing I have shown for purposes of illustrationone embodiment which my invention may assume in practice.

In this illustrative construction 1 have shown a pumping mechanismcomprising a compressor 1 of any usual construction connected throughits discharge pipe 2 to a receiver 3, the receiver in turn being con--nected through piping 1 with the down-- pipe 5 of an air lift pump 6disposed in the well, and the pump discharging through an up-pipe 7surrounding the pipe 5, with a proper closed chamber or casing 8.

In my improved construction, means are provided for utilizing thenatural flow oi the well when conditions permit. Referring moreparticularly to the casing, it will be observed that the up-pipe 7 isprovided with a series of perforations 9 above the bottom 01 the casingin order to permit the ordinary flow of the well toenter the bottom ofthe casing 8. ,Here it will be also noted that a discharge line 10 isprovided at the bottom of the casing, the same herein having anoutwardly opening check valve 11 of any suitable type disposed therein.Thus it will be observed that with the compressor shut down, the wellmay operate under its ordinary or natural flow, and that the liquid mayflow into the casing 8 and there be caused to develop its own head andflow out through the discharge pipe 10, the valve 11 opening to permitthe free flow of the fluid,

Should, however, the ordinary flow of the well not suflice, means areprovided for increasing the same by the use of a vacuum in the casing 8.These means herein assume the form of a pipe connection 12 connectedbetween the intake 13 of the compressor and the piping 1 leading to thedown-pipe 5 of the air lii't pump. As shown, a valve 14 is provided inthis pipe connection, while a valve 15 is provided on the atmosphereside of the compressor intake, a valve 16 is provided in the pipeconnection 2 to control the communication with the atmosphere, and avalve 17 is provided to control the flow from the receiver. Here, itwill also be noted that a check valve 18 of any suitable outwardlyopening type is provided on the top of the casing and that an inwardlyopening check valve 19 is provided in the down pipe 5 at a point withinand near the top of the casing 8. It will also be noted that anupstanding U-bend 20 of suitable length is provided in the connection tothe downpipe 5 and between the receiver and this pipe, to preventbackflow to the compressor. As a result of this construction, it will beobserved that by operating the compressor as a vacuum pump, i. e.closing valves 15 and 17 and opening the valves 14 and 16, the valve 18will be closed and the valve 19 opened. the air in the casing 8 beingexhausted through the valve 19 in such a manner as tocreate a partialvacuum in the easing and thereby increase the discharge from the well,any drawing of liquid in to the compressor being prevented by the Ubend20. The liquid discharges through pipe 22 which terminates at or nearthe bottom of a sump 23, but below the end of the sump discharge pipe241. This insures that the liquid level in the sump will always be abovethe end of pipe 22, thus sealing the same so that the vacuum system canbe properly started. During the vacuum operation the valve 11 will closeautomatically and the valve 25 will be opened- Liquid will then beallowed to flow from the well and discharge into the sump from which itis withdrawn through pipe 2 1 by any suitable means (not shown). It willbe seen that the liquid level in the sump will have to be kept lowerthan the well level so that the vacuum sys tem can operate by itself.Once the system has started the vacuum pump can be shut off and a vacuumheld in the casing 8. The vacuum system then works on the siphonprinciple. It will of course be obvious that the only time when it isnecessary to have the level of the liquid in the sump 23 below the welllevel is when the siphon operation is desired, or, if the sump level ishigher than the well level and it is desired to create Well ill) flow byVacuum, it is only necessary to close the valve 25.

It will also be observed that means are provided whereby a positive airlift may be used when desired, an umbrella top 21 on the up-pipe 7 beingprovided for use in this connection. An air lift is thus readilyobtainable when desired by simply closing the valves 14, 25 and 16 andopening. thevalves and 17, whereupon air will be supplied from thecompressor tothe pipe connection 2 and receiver dandfrom the latter.through the pipe connection at, and bend; to the down-pipe 5 of the airlift pump 6; This pump wilhthen inturn mix the air with the liquid inthe well in a well-known manner, and causethe resulting. mixture to bedischarged up through the up-pipe 7 against the umbrella. top 21, theair andliquid being separated in the casing, in. a well-known manner,and the pressure in the top of the casing being regulated by the valve18 in such. a manner as to cause the liquidin the casing to bemaintained under the proper pressure and forced out. through thedischarge linev 10. Obviously, curing the operationof the mechanism asan air lift sy tem, thevalve 19 will be closed by the pressure of theair, while the valve 11 will be openedby the-out flowing liquid.

As a result. of my improvement, it will be observed that it. is possiblefor a single installation to be used either inv connection with thenormal or natural flow of" the well, as a vacuum system, or as apositive air lift system, thereby enal'ilingitv to deal efl ec tivelywith diverse-conditions of well flow or the like and; maintain a desiredconstant flow into the discharge line. It will also be observed that themechanism is of a simple character requiring only minor and convenientadjustments, which are readily made, inorder to enable it to operate asa system of'any of the three types desired.

While I have in this application speciiically described one embodimentwhich n'iy-invention may assume, it, will of course be understood thatthis form of the same is usedforillustrative purposes, and that theinvention .may be modified and embodied in whole or in part in variousother forms without departing from its, spirit or the scope of theappended claims.

IVhatI claim as new. and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a.pumping system, natural wellfiow utilizing mechanism includingdischarge means, means. for utilizing a vacuum to increase the flow, andmeans automatically operative to close said natural flow discharge whensaid vacuum means is utilized.

2. In a well pumping mechanism, natural well How utilizing mechanism,means for,

utilizing vacuum to increase the flow ineluding discharge means, meansfor supplying pressure to increase the flow, and discharge means for theliquid. from the well separate from said first mentioned discharge meansand operative separately therefrom.

In a pumping mechanism, natural well 7" flow utilizing mechanismincluding liquid discharge means, and means permitting selectiveemployment of suction or of pressure to augment directly liquid flow insaid discharge means, said means including a com- 7 mon suction andpressure transmitting pipe,

1. In a pumping mechanism, vacuum, pumping mechanism, anduneansincluding a fluid pipe common to said pumpingmechanism for substitutin)ressure at will toeffeet actualpumping ofv thetluidto theidischargeend.

5. In a pumping mechanismhaving a,plu rality of discharge means, vacuumpumpingmechanism, means for substituting natural;

well flow utilizing mechanism at will, and. means automaticallyoperative; to close- One. of said discharge means when.said vacuum;mechanism is operative.

6. In a pumping mechanismhauinga pin:

rality of discharge means, vacuumpumping mechanism, means forselectively snbstitut ing natural well low or pressure to meet varyingconditions, anduneans automatically,

operative to close one. of: said discharge means whensaidvacuummechanism isoperative.

7. Ina pumping system, air, lift. pumpingmechanisni, a separatortherefor, and means for substitutingnatural well: flowv utilizingmechanism at. will.-

8. Ina pumplng system, a r l ft. pumping mechanism, means forsubstituting. vacuum pumping mechanism at will, and a common supply pipefor. saidi vacuum and air lift pumping mechanisms.

9. In a pumping system, air lift pumping mechanism, means forselectively substituting natural well flow or-vacuum to meet varyingconditions, a natural well flow diserable natural well flowutilizingmechanism,

vacuum operatedlne.chanism, pressure operated pumping mechanism, and acommonpipe for controllingfluidpressure for a plurality of saidmechanisms.

11. In a pumpingsystem, a gaseous fluidpump, natural well How utilizingmechaT nism, and'meansfor; enabling said pump to supply gaseous pressureto or to produce.- a vacuuinin said'inechanism, saidJmeans including afluid connection common to both operations and arrangedbetween .saidpump nd mechanism.

12. A pumping system comprising a, casing having anaturalwellflowreceivinginlet and a discharge, means forcreating avacuum in said casing, and a second discharge from said casing separatefrom said first discharge.

13. A pumping system comprising a casing having a natural well flowreceiving inlet and a discharge, means for selectively creating a Vacuumin said casing or supplying an aerated mixture thereto, and means forautomatically closing said discharge upon creation of said vacuum.

14. In con'ibination, an air lift system includinga pump, pipingconnected thereto and having a U-bend therein, a casing havingoppositely opening valves therein, and means for selectively creating avacuum in said casing or supplying pressure to said pump.

15. In combination, a compressor, an air lift system connected to saidcompressor and including a casing having oppositely opening valves, andvalves for selectively connecting said compressor discharge or saidcompressor inlet to said air lift system.

16. In combination, a compressor, a receiver connected thereto, an airlift system connected to said receiver and compressor and including acasing having a well flow inlet and oppositely opening valves, andvalves for selectively connecting said receiver or said compressor inletto said air lift system.

17. In combination, a compressor, an air lift system connected to saidcompressor and including a casing having oppositely opening valves, awell-flow inlet in said casing, and valves for selectively connectingsaid compressor discharge or said compressor inlet to said air liftsystem.

18. In combination, an air lift system including a pump, a casing havingoppositely opening valves therein, a riser pipe with which said pumpcooperates connected to said casing, means for selectively creating avacuum in said casing or supplying pressure to said pump, and means forpreventing the passage of liquid from said casing to said vacuumcreating means.

19. A pumping system comprising means whereby natural flow, air lift, orvacuum can be utilized, said means including a common means forreceiving and discharging the Well flow.

20. A pumping system comprising selectively operable means wherebynatural flow, air lift, or vacuum can be utilized, said means includinga common means for receiving and discharging the well flow.

21. A pumping system comprising a re ceptacle, a riser pipe having anopening communicating with said receptacle and adapted to allow thenatural flow of the well to freely discharge, an umbrella top disposedover the end of said pipe and within said receptacle, and air liftmechanism adapted to cooperate with said umbrella top. 7

22. A pumping system comprising a riser pipe, a receptacle disposedadjacent the upper end thereof, means whereby the natural flow of thewell may discharge freely from said riser and receptacle, and means forcreating a vacuum within said receptacle to aid the Well flow.

23. A pumping system comprising a riser pipe and means for increasingthe flow therein by subjecting the same to suction or by admittingpressure thereto, said system comprising valve means respectivelyautomatically operative during said different operations.

24. A pumping system comprising a well, a sump, the level of the liquidtherein being below the level of the liquid in the well, means forcreating a vacuumon said well to permit a flow of fluid into said sumpto start a siphon operation, and air lift pumping means for assistingthe flow of fluid from said well.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

JOHN OLIPHANT.

